While I’ve written about Norfolk Island before, I’ve never shared any photos of the island’s extensive collection of convict-era buildings and ruins. The buildings here were all built during the second convict settlement (1825-1853) and subsequently used by the Pitcairn settlers when they arrived in 1856. The ruins form a part of daily life on Norfolk – you drive through them to get to the main swimming beaches. The cattle graze outside the New Gaol complex walls. It’s quiet and peaceful – and feels like time has stood still, just for a second.

I’d love to go to the Isle of Man. There’s something about islands, isn’t there. Pre-kids, Alex and I visited Inishmore off Galway and it had a similar feel. Much colder in winter than Norfolk, though!